Fuse device.



No. 800,822. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905. G A. ROLFE.

FUSE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902.

Witnesses: W lnventnn I I hsrlasAFlnlfs.

1 g Atturnsg.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. ROLFE, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO ROLFE ELECTRIC CO., OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

FUSE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 19o5.

Application filed January 20, 1902. Serial No. 90,481.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. RoLEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fuse Devices, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to fuse devices involving very fine or smallinelosed fuses for use upon circuits normally carrying very smallcurrents-such, for example, as telephone, telegraph, and like circuits.

Prominent objects of my invention are to simplify and improve the meansby which such fuse devices can be attached to and detached from anoutside line-wire, so as to permit the fuse device to act as aconnection between the interior and exterior wires, to simplify andcheapen the construction of the device, and to allow it to be readilyassembled and taken apart at will and to arrange for easy threading ofthe fuse within the inclosing case and the removal of the sametherefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing a fuse deviceembodying my invention and a portion of an exterior electricalconstruction with which the fuse is associated. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the fuse device itself. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same,the cap being removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the fuse threaded through thedevice.

In the device shown in the drawings for carrying out my invention Iprovide a tubular casing 1, made of insulating material. A convenientand cheap construction is to make it of wood and coat it with waterproofpaint. The ends of this tube are provided with threaded sleeves 2 2,which are fitted into correspondingly-threaded end portions of the tube.The threaded sleeves are held firmly in position in the ends of the tube1 by set-screws 3 3, which extend through the wall of the tube, so thattheir inner ends press against the sleeves 2 2, while their outer endsare exposed outside of the tube. One end of the tube, the

5 upper end, as shown in the drawings, is provided with a device forclamping upon an outside line-wire, which device conveniently consistsof clamping members 4 1, having grooves 5, arranged opposite one anotherin the two members, so as to receive the linewire. These clampingmembers are arranged to lit upon the threaded sleeve 2 at that end ofthe device, so as to be loose and turn readily thereupon. Between theclamping device and the end of the tube 1 is a nut 6, which serves tofinish off the end of the tube and also provide a bearing for theclamping members. Outside of the clamping device are a pair of set-nuts7 7. At the other end of the device are three nuts 8 and 9 9 and a pairof washers 1O 10 between the nuts 9 9. The nut 8 is intended to fitclose against the end of the tube 1, as the nut 6 does. Outside of thenuts 7 7 at one end and 9 9 at the other are caps 11 11, which fit overtheends of the threaded sleeves 2 2, although, if desired, these capscan be dispensed with. WVithin the interior or bore of the tube 1 isarranged the fine fuse-wire 12, which extends from end to end of thedevice.

In accordance with my invention I provide a support 13, adapted to carryand support the fuse 12. As a simple arrangement, this is provided by alength of string sufficient to extend from end to end of the device andthe fuse is wound about this length of string, as shown.

In assembling the device the fuse is threaded through the interior ofthe tube 1 by passing the support, with fuse wound about it, through thebore of the tube. The ends of the fuse are then soldered to the ends ofthe threaded sleeves 2 2 at the opposite ends of the tube. If caps 11 11are used, these are then applied, covering up and inclosing the ends ofthe threaded sleeves 2 2. The device in this completed form is thenready for use and is applied for service, as shown in Fig. 1. In thisfigure the clamping members 4: 1 are ar ranged to clamp a line-wire 15,which is shown running to an insulator 16, which is understood to besuitably supported outside of a house or building. The clamp is fastenedsecurely to this line-wire 15 by properly adjusting the set-nuts 7 7.From the lower end of the fuse device a conductor 17 leads to theinterior of the building. This conductor is connected with the fusedevice by means of the set-nuts 9 9, between which it is firmly clamped.When the fuse is blown, the caps 11 11 are removed and the support 13for the fuse is withdrawn from the interior of the tube 1 and a newfuse, either on the same or another support 13, is inserted and solderedto the ends of the sleeves 2 2. The caps 11 11 are thereupon replacedand the device is again ready for operation.

It will be seen that the device is advantageous in the followingrespects. By making the clamping members 4 4 separate from the body ofthe device and mounting them loosely thereupon a twisting movement ofthe device relatively to the clamps is readily permitted. This allowsthe clamping members to be easily adjusted to the line-wire and alsoallows a slight relative twist between the clamp and the tube to takeplace by reason of movement of the line-wire or otherwise, and no harmresults to the device. As heretofore constructed devices of this kindhave had their clamping members secured rigidly to the tube, so that ifthe clamp or tube was twisted the clamp would become loose or would betwisted 0E and the fuse probably broken and the device rendered uselessfFurthermore, the arrangement of the fuse upon the support by which it isinserted and re moved from the interior of the tube is a great saving inlabor, because it allows the fuses to be introduced within the interiorof the tube in a very quick and easy manner, much quicker than could bedone by attempting to thread such a fine wire through such a long tube.It is also advantageous because when a fuse has become blown theremaining portions of the fuse or melted metal are fully removed by thesupport when the same is withdrawn. Thus the interior of the tube isalways kept perfectly clean, and injury cannot result from having bitsof metal therein. Furthermore, the arrangement of the threaded sleeves 22 within the interior of the ends of the tube 1 instead of sleevesinclosing the end portions of the tube and the lockscrew holding thesethreaded sleeves in place allows the sleeves to be held firmly in properposition with respect to the tube and at the same time allows them to bereleased, so as to permit their removal whenever desired. Furthermore,the lock-screws 3 3 can be used as means for attachment of tags todevices of this kind, it being well known that tags showing the capacityor operating-point of the fuse or other matter are desirably used inconnection with said devices. Again, the

ends of the tube are fully and completely sealed by the caps 11 11,which prevent moisture or other matter from obtaining access to theinterior of the device. The construction herein shown can be variedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

hat 1 claim is- 1. In adevice of the class specified, the combination ofan insulating-tube, a metallic sleeve inserted in the end thereof andprojecting from such end, a fuse inclosed within the tube and extendinginto and connected with said metallic sleeve, a clamping device fittedloosely on the sleeve consisting of two jaws, and a holding devicearranged on the sleeve outside of the clamping device, said holdingdevice and clamping device being both fitted over the sleeve and thesleeve being extended through both of such devices so as to permitaccess to the fuse without removing the same, substantially asdescribed.

2. In adevice of the class specified, the combination of aninsulating-tube 1, a threaded sleeve 2 fitted into an end thereof andprojecting from such end, a pair of clamping-nuts 4, t, loose on thesleeve 2, and threaded nuts 7, 7, outside of the clamping-nuts 1, 4c.

3. In a device of the class specified, the combination of aninsulating-tube 1, a threaded metallic sleeve 2 inserted into the end ofthe tube land projecting therefrom, alock-screw 3 extending through thewall of the tube 1 and engaging the threaded sleeve 2, clamping devices1, a, fitted loosely on the threaded sleeve 2, and threaded nuts 7, 7,on the threaded sleeve 2 outside of the clamping devices 4, 1,substantially as described.

4. A device of the class specified, comprising a tube of insulatingmaterial, a pair of threaded sleeves fitted into the ends thereof andprojecting therefrom, lock-screws 3, 3 for locking said threaded sleevesin position, a fuse arranged within the tube and connected with saidsleeves, a clamping device consisting of a pair of clampingmembers 1, 1,mounted loosely upon one of said sleeves, lock-nuts 7, 7 for clampingsaid clamping members together, and nuts 9, 9, on the other threadedsleeve for connecting a conductor therewith.

In a device of the class specified, the combination of an inclosiugcasing, asleeve fitted into the same and projectingtherefrom, alockscrew for locking said sleeve in position, a clamping deviceconsisting of a pairof clamping members fitted loosely upon said sleeve,and means for compressing said clamping members together, substantiallyas described.

6. In a device of the class specified, the combination with an inclosiugtube, of a fuse inclosed therein, and a string by which the fuse issupported and carried, substantially as described.

7. A device of the class specified, comprising an insulating-tube 1,threaded sleeves 2, 2, fitting into the ends thereof, lock-screws 3, 3for locking the sleeves 2, 2, a clamping device consisting of clampingmembers 4:, 1,

mounted loosely upon one of the sleeves 2, 2, In Witness whereofIhereunto subscribe my a pair of lock-nuts 7, 7 for holding theclampname this 16th day of January, A. D. 1902. ing members 4, 4: inclamped condition, a sec- CHARLES A ROLFE.

ond pair of lock-nuts 9, 9 for connecting a 5 conductor with the othersleeve 2, and a pair Witnesses:

of caps 11, 11, fitted upon the outer ends of A. MILLER BELFIELD, thesleeves 2, 2, substantially as described. HARVEY L. HANSON.

